SCREENING FOR MICROSATELLITES OF THE COCOA POD BORER CONOPOMORPHA CRAMERELLA (SNELLEN) (CPB); PRELIMINARY WORK WITH CPB FROM MALAYSIA
Authors: Roslina Binti Mohd Shah, Marynold Purificacion,, Anisah Bintil Savantil, Saripah Binti Bakar, Adly M.M. Abd-Alla
Journal Issue: Malaysian Cocoa Journal, Volume 15(1)/2023
Keywords: Sterile insect technique, microsatellites, primers , population genetics, amplicons
Published On: 27/10/2023
Abstract
cocoa pod borer (CPB) Conopomorpha cramerella (Snellen) (Lepidoptera: Gracillaridae) is one of the major constraints in cocoa production. In addition to the cultural and chemical control methods, biological control methods such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) can be implemented for CPB control. However, SIT is species-specific dependent, and its successful implementation will mainly rely on the competitiveness of sterile males released in the targeted area and the presence of an isolated population to avoid reinvasion after the completion of the SIT programmes. Currently, no genetic markers are available for population genetics analyses of CPB. During the present work, we searched for suitable microsatellites in the partial genome sequence of CPB. Out of 28730 primer pairs found, 192 pairs were selected based on the amplicon size (180-300 nt) and the motif repeats (≥ 11) and synthesized and tested against C. cramerella DNA. Among those 192 pairs, a collection of 30 proves to be working well with CPB from Malaysia. This is encouraging for a preliminary investigation into finding appropriate microsatellites to use in a larger population of CPB from other ASEAN nations. Moths collected in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam will be analysed using the final twelve microsatellites that meet all criteria. A defined microsatellite loci will provide useful tools for the analysis of the population genetics of this pest to better understand its dynamics and ecology and to identify potential isolated populations that can be targeted with area-wide integrated pest management with SIT component.